Management of Hypertension in the Outpatient Setting

The treatment of hypertension on an outpatient basis should be approached in a systematic manner. The diagnosis of hypertension should always be verified first before treatment is initiated and, where indicated, a workup should be done. Lifestyle modifications should be considered in all patients with hypertension. Blood pressure can be brought to goal in the majority of patients if antihypertensive medications are correctly dosed or combined. As blood pressure is brought to goal in the patient with hypertension, ongoing attention should be directed to long-term adherence to therapy.